Next time you're at a powerlifting meet, ask the top performers where they do most of their training.

You'll notice a pattern.

Most of their work doesn't happen at GloboGym.

Sure, they might hit a commercial gym occasionally—train with friends, switch up the environment, and use specialty equipment they don't own.

But the bulk of their training? The work that actually produces results?

That happens at home.

I started noticing this a few years ago. Every serious lifter I met—the ones actually competing, actually strong, actually putting up numbers—did most of their training at home.

Not because they couldn't afford gym memberships.

Because they'd outgrown what gyms could offer.

The Pattern (Five Athletes, Mostly Training at Home)

Let me show you what I mean.

Mike—Powerlifter, 615 lb squat

Does 80% of the training in his garage. Two-car setup. Power rack, platform, Texas Power Bar, 800 lbs of plates.

Occasionally hits a commercial gym when he wants to train with buddies or use specialty bars he doesn't own.

Why does he do most of the training at home?

"I was three weeks out from a meet. Showed up to the gym, waited around, and finally got the rack. Some guy was hovering, waiting for me to finish. I'm trying to hit my planned working sets, and I'm rushing because this dude's standing there. He ended up doing overhead tricep extensions in the rack for 20 minutes. I realized I couldn't prep for a competition like this."

Now:

He does 90% of his meet prep at home. Occasionally goes to the gym for accessory work or training with partners. But the important stuff—squats, bench, deadlift—happens in his garage, where he controls everything.

Been training mostly at home: 6 years

Sarah—CrossFit competitor, regional level

Trains in her garage probably 5-6 days a week. Rower, rig, bumper plates, assault bike.

She still goes to her box sometimes for community and to train with her crew.

Why does she do most of the training at home?

"Class times were killing me. 6 AM or 7 PM. I'd either show up half asleep or with zero energy left. And I couldn't program my own work for competition—I had to follow whatever the class was doing that day. I needed to control my training."

Now:

Programs specifically for competition. Trains on her schedule. Still shows up to the box on Saturdays for community workouts or when she wants to train with people. Training at home has actually enhanced the social part of the gym: when she goes to the community gym, she knows exactly why she's there.

But her real work happens in the garage.

Been training mostly at home: 4 years

James—Strongman competitor

He hits a powerlifting gym once or twice a month when he wants to squat or deadlift with other strong people. Gets to pick and choose his community gym experiences.

"They asked me to stop deadlifting heavy because I was 'too loud.' I'm training for strongman. Atlas stones hit the ground. Logs drop. Everything's loud. I realized I needed my own space where I could actually train the way I need to."

Now:

Drops atlas stones whenever. Flips tires. Trains events no commercial gym would allow. Sometimes drives to a specialty gym for heavy squats or to train with other strongman guys. But event work? 90% at home.

Been training mostly at home: 7 years

Lisa—Competitive bodybuilder

Trains in converted spare bedroom. Adjustable bench, dumbbells to 90 lbs, cable station.

Occasionally goes to a gym when she wants different equipment or to train with her coach in person.

"Contest prep is super specific. High volume, short rest, certain exercises at certain angles. I'd be setting up equipment across the gym floor for a giant set. Someone would always grab something mid-circuit. I couldn't execute what my coach programmed."

Now:

Been training mostly at home: 5 years

Dave - MMA fighter

Trains in the garage gym. Heavy bag, double-end bag, speed bag, platform for lifting, battle ropes.

He still trains with his team at the MMA gym for sparring and technique work.

Now:

Hits circuits at home—burpees to kettlebell swings to bag work to medicine ball slams, zero waits. Lifts in his garage on his schedule. He still trains with his team for sparring and technique. But strength and conditioning? That's at home, where he can set everything up exactly how he needs it.

Been training mostly at home: 3 years

Five athletes. Five different sports. Same pattern.

Most of their productive training happens at home.

They still use commercial or specialty gyms sometimes. But the bulk of the work—the training that actually produces results—happens in spaces they control.

Why Serious Athletes Do Most Training at Home

After talking to 20+ competitive athletes, the reasons were basically identical:

1. Equipment Limitations

Commercial gyms buy equipment for average people doing average training.

What serious athletes need:

• Competition-standard bars (Texas Power Bar, Eleiko, Ohio Bar)

• Heavy enough plates to actually progress (many gyms cap at 3-4 plates per side before the complaints start)

• Stable platforms that can handle heavy deadlifts

• Racks that don't wobble under 500+ lbs

What commercial gyms have:

• Generic bars that spin wrong and feel off

• Limited heavy plates (everyone's fighting for 45s)

• Uneven platforms that aren't safe for serious weight

• Racks that shake during walkouts

You can't train for a 600 lb squat on equipment designed for people who squat 135.

2. Wait Times Kill Momentum

Serious training requires specific equipment in a specific order.

Example powerlifting session:

• Squat: 8 sets (need rack for 35 minutes)

• Bench: 6 sets (need bench for 25 minutes)

• Deadlift: 5 sets (need platform for 20 minutes)

At a commercial gym:
Wait for the rack. Rush squats because people are waiting. Wait for the bench. Rush because it's closing time. Someone's doing curls on the platform.

At home:
Walk to the garage. Execute the exact program. Zero waits. Zero rushing. Zero compromises.

The difference over 6 months?

Commercial gym athlete: Inconsistent programming, missed sessions, adapted workouts
Home gym athlete: Perfect program execution, every session, every week

One gets stronger. One stays average.

3. Circuit Training Is Impossible at Commercial Gyms

Dave (the fighter) said this was the biggest thing:

Fighters, CrossFit athletes, anyone doing high-intensity circuits:

You need multiple pieces of equipment available simultaneously.

That's basically impossible at commercial gyms during normal hours.

At home? Set it up once, run through it, and done.

4. Training Specificity Requirements

As you get serious, training gets specific.

Powerlifters need competition lifts with competition equipment.
Strongman needs event training (stones, logs, yoke).
Bodybuilders need specific angles and constant tension.
Fighters need bag work and conditioning circuits.

Commercial gyms are designed for general fitness.

They're great if you want to "stay in shape."

They're terrible if you're training for something specific.

You need specialized equipment. Specific setups. Consistent execution.

You can't get that in a gym designed for everyone.

5. The Control Factor

Every serious athlete I talked to mentioned this:

"I needed control over the important sessions."

Control over equipment selection.
Control over the training schedule.
Control over environment (music, temperature, distractions).
Control over programming execution.

Commercial gyms are someone else's space with someone else's rules.

No chalk. No deadlifting. No loud music. Close at 10 PM. Wait for your turn.

Home gyms are YOUR space with YOUR rules.

Train at 5 AM or midnight. Drop weights. Play whatever music. Take as long as you need.

Control matters when results matter.

Most athletes still use commercial or specialty gyms sometimes—for a change of scenery, to train with friends, or to access equipment they don't own.

If anything, a home gym actually opens you up to enjoying commercial gyms more. You don't need to rely on them for your daily bread and butter…so you can use them for exactly what you want.

But for the sessions that actually move the needle? You want total control.

What Actually Changes When You Own Your Training Space

Here's what every athlete said improved immediately after doing most training at home:

Consistency Went Up

"I haven't missed a planned workout in 2 years. Zero excuses left." - Mike

Why:

• The gym is 30 seconds away.

• No commute to skip

• No hours to work around

• Weather doesn't matter.

Can't blame traffic, closing times, or crowded equipment when your gym is in the garage.

Progress Accelerated

"I PR'd more in my first home gym year than in the previous 3 gym years combined." - Sarah

Why:

• Perfect program execution on important sessions

• Progressive overload without equipment waits

• No adapting key workouts to available equipment

• Consistent training environment for main lifts…the same bar, the same platform day after day.

Progression requires consistency. Consistency requires removing obstacles.

Training Became Enjoyable Again

"I actually look forward to training now. No stress. Just the work." - James

Why:

• No fighting for equipment during important sessions

• No rushing because people are waiting

• No distractions during focused work

• Pure focus when it matters

Training should feel productive, not frustrating.

Investment Mindset Shifted

"I stopped thinking short-term. Now I buy equipment I'll use for 20 years." - Lisa

Why:

• Ownership changes psychology

• Long-term thinking vs. monthly mindset

• Building something vs. renting access

• Equipment becomes an asset, not an expense.

Gym members think in months. Home gym owners think in decades.

Community Actually Got Better

"Thought I'd miss the gym community. Turns out I just see them differently now." - Dave

Why:

• Still trains with his team for specific work

• But serious training happens alone with full focus.

• No random interruptions during key sessions

• Sees gym friends for the social/community stuff, does real work at home

You don't lose community. You just separate social training from serious training.

The Garage Gym Culture (What Most People Don't See)

Here's what I learned talking to these athletes:

Garage gym culture isn't about being antisocial.

It's about controlling the sessions that matter most.

It's About Standards

You can't maintain high standards in an environment designed for the average.

Commercial gyms need to serve everyone. That means:

• The equipment is light enough for beginners

• Rules that prevent "intimidation".

• The environment that doesn't scare off casual members

Nothing wrong with that. But it's not built for serious athletes.

Garage gyms are built for one person's standards. If you want heavy equipment, buy it. If you want competition bars, get them. If you need a specific setup, build it.

You're not limited by what serves the average member.

It's About Ownership

Mike said something that stuck with me:

"When I had a gym membership, I was a customer. Now I'm an owner. That changed everything. I still hit the commercial gym sometimes, but I don't depend on it anymore."

Customers use what's available.
Owners build what they need.

Customers think, "Is this worth $89 this month?"
Owners think, "Will I still be using this in 10 years?"

Ownership creates a different relationship with training.

It's About Refusing Mediocrity

Every serious athlete I talked to had this moment:

The moment they realized the gym was holding them back on their most important sessions.

Not because the gym was bad. Because they'd outgrown what gyms offer for serious work.

Sarah: "I was adapting my training to fit the gym. That's backwards."

James: "I was feeling weaker trying to train quietly."

Lisa: "I was wasting time; I should've been training."

That's when garage gyms happen.

When you refuse to let the environment limit results on the sessions that actually matter.

How to Know You've Outgrown Commercial Gyms (For Your Main Work)

Not everyone needs a home gym. Some people thrive in a commercial gym environment.

But if these sound familiar, you've probably outgrown it for your serious training:

You're Programming Around Equipment Availability

If you're changing exercises because equipment's taken, you've outgrown it.

Serious training requires executing a specific program. Not adapting to whatever's free.

You're Thinking About Equipment While Training

If you're mentally calculating "when will the rack be free" mid-workout, you've outgrown it.

Training should be about training. Not equipment logistics.

You're More Frustrated Than Focused

If important sessions feel stressful instead of productive, you've outgrown them.

Training should feel like work. Not fighting through obstacles to do work.

You're Compromising on Technique for Speed

If you're rushing reps because people are waiting, you've outgrown it.

Quality reps matter more than getting through a session fast.

You're Training Around the Gym Schedule Instead of Your Own

If you're choosing training times based on when the gym's less crowded, you've outgrown it.

Optimal training times should match YOUR energy and recovery, not gym traffic patterns.

You Know Exactly What Equipment You Need

If you can list specific bars, specific rack features, and the specific setup you want, you've outgrown it.

That specificity means you know what works for you. Build it.

What a Garage Gym Actually Means

Lots of people think garage gyms are:

• Budget option for people who can't afford memberships

• Compromised training because of limited equipment

• Lonely and unmotivating

I was completely wrong.

Garage gyms are where serious athletes go for their most important training when commercial gyms can't keep up.

It's better for serious work because:

• You control quality.

• You own the environment.

• You remove limitations.

• You invest in decades, not months.

Garage gyms aren't starter setups.

They're what happens when you graduate from needing external support to prop up your training. A home gym gives you internal control for your main sessions and your actual goals.

The Pattern

Here's what this is really about:

Most serious athletes still use commercial or specialty gyms sometimes. Training with friends. Different environment. Access to equipment they don't own.

But the bulk of their productive work—the training that actually produces results—happens at home.

Because that's where they have total control.

Control over equipment. Control over the environment. Control over execution.

The best lifters in your city might hit GloboGym on Saturday for some accessory work or to train with buddies.

But Tuesday at 6 AM, when they're hitting their heavy squat session?

They're in the garage, where nothing can compromise the work.

That's the pattern.

Not exclusive home training. But doing the important stuff at home, where you control everything.

Join the Underground.

The Befitnow Underground is for people who do most of their serious training at home:

• Garage gym setup guides (from athletes who actually compete)

• Equipment selection for serious training (not generic recommendations)

• Programming frameworks that require control

• The community of people who train on their terms

→ Join 6,100+ athletes who control their most important training.

The Pattern You Can't Unsee

Once you notice it, you can't stop seeing it.

The strongest people you know. The ones competing. The ones with decade-long consistency.

Most of their serious work doesn't happen at commercial gyms.

They might go sometimes. But the bulk of their training—the sessions that actually matter— happen in garages, basements, and spaces they built.

Not because they started seriously.

Because they got serious.

And serious training requires serious control over the sessions that move the needle.

That's what garage gyms give you.

Not isolation. Control.

Control over quality. Control over the environment. Control over results.

You can still train with people. Still hit other gyms. Still have community.

But when it's time to do the work that actually matters?

You're in your space. Where nothing compromises execution.

Ready to control your important sessions?

Join The Befitnow Underground for garage gym setups, equipment guidance, and a community of serious athletes who do their main work at home.

→ [BUILD YOUR TRAINING SPACE]

P.S.—Every competitive athlete I talked to still uses other gyms sometimes. But they all said the same thing about their main training: "I needed to control the sessions that actually produce results." Not every workout needs perfect conditions. But the important ones do. That's why most of their serious work happens at home.

P.P.S.—Mike (615 lb squatter) told me, "I still train at the commercial gym sometimes. But meet prep? That's all at home. Can't risk equipment waits or compromises three weeks out." Six years of doing his important work at home, he's added 140 lbs to his total. The social workouts happen at gyms. The work that matters happens where he controls everything.